The Horrors of Too Much Botox: Top Signs to Look For

Published on December 6, 2023

In pursuit of staying youthful, Botox is a popular cosmetic treatment for it. It effectively alleviates the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Many women and men love its effect on forehead lines. It also improves crow’s feet, frown lines, and the nose. 

And there’s no denying that all that’s too much is terrible. It is also the truth when it comes to Botox. Too much of it can give you an unnatural look that is often unsightly. 

In this article, we’ll unravel the signs of too much Botox. We’ll have you educated on what happens with it, how to correct it, and how to reverse it. We’ll also share proper aftercare and maintenance for Botox. Let’s age with cosmetic treatments the right way. Let’s start.

What Is Botox?

Botox injections are shots that employ a toxin to safeguard a muscle from moving for a limited time. These shots are often applied to smooth wrinkles on the face. They’re also used to treat neck spasms. Botox can also alleviate sweating, overactive bladder, lazy eye, and other conditions. It can even help prevent migraine.

People often request the injections in the following facial areas: 

• Wrinkles between the eyebrows (frown lines, glabellar lines, or elevens) 
• Wrinkles around the eyes (crow’s feet) 
• Horizontal creases in the forehead 
• Lines at the corners of the mouth 
• Cobblestone skin on the chin 

Benefits of Botox

• Prevents and reduces wrinkles 
• Enhances natural beauty and confidence
• Improves various health conditions 
• Noninvasive and fast procedure with immediate results 
• Botox has other FDA-approved unexpected uses 

How Much Botox Is Too Much?

Botox is generally safe. And it is possible to have too much of it. 

Overuse can lead to an unsatisfactory appearance. You can have a crooked, asymmetrical face. You can also have a frozen facial expression. And this isn’t even all of it. 

The number of Botox units required for each patient varies greatly. It will anchor on factors like muscle size, strength, and position. Yet, an average Botox procedure uses 50 units at a time. The maximum safe amount is 100 units. 

Signs of Too Much Botox

1. Surprised or Frozen look 

Your face may look frozen if you have too many injections in your forehead. Botox paralyzes the muscles in the treated area. Thus, too much can make it challenging to show proper facial expressions. 

In other cases, over-injecting the middle of the forehead can create the so-called “Spock brow.” It is when the eyebrow tails end up unnaturally high. 

2. A lopsided look 

Uneven administration of Botox can yield you a lopsided appearance. And it is with disproportionate features. You may have a crooked smile. Also, the so-called “Joker eyebrow.”

3. A droopy look 

Droopy eyelids (ptosis) appear as heavy, hooded eyelids that give off a tired, sleepy look. This side effect typically happens after a forehead Botox treatment or for frown lines. When the toxin migrates into the muscles, it facilitates the upper eyelid. 

4. Puffy cheeks 

Too much Botox in the cheek makes the effect known as a “pillow face.” In occurrence, the eyes and the jawline can appear much smaller than the puffy cheeks. This asymmetry is challenging to fix with corrective follow-up treatments. Even most experts advise waiting for the product to wear off. 

5. Overfilled lips 

A poorly done Botox lip flip can give unnaturally plum lips. In others, one lip is bigger than the other. Attempting to touch it up with more botox can also start a vicious cycle. It may fix the initial mistake. Yet, it will only be directed to over-stretched lips. One with saggy skin once the neurotoxin has worn off completely.

6. Difficulty eating and drinking 

If you receive too many Botox injections around the mouth area, you may find it challenging to eat and drink. The muscles responsible for moving food and liquids into your mouth are temporarily paralyzed. As a result, you may drool or spill liquids out of your mouth. Other activities that require using mouth muscles may also be affected. For one, talking and kissing. 

7. Numbness

Too many Botox injections in the eye area might direct to numbness. It may cause you to blink with difficulty. It can cause your eyes to dry out and become irritated. Also, your eyelids might feel heavy and droopy. To add to this horror, numbness can also make it hard to feel and express emotions. 

8. Trouble breathing 

In rare cases, people have reported undergoing paralysis of the muscles facilitating their breathing. This is a severe side effect that can be life-threatening. You should seek medical attention at once if you experience trouble breathing after getting Botox injections. 

9. Change in voice 

If you receive too many injections in the muscles around your vocal cords, you may sense a change in your voice. You might also experience difficulty speaking for long periods. Also, in singing. If you do not take breaks between treatments, the change in your voice may become permanent. 

10. Bruising and swelling 

These are typically not serious side effects of too much Botox. Bruising and swelling also usually go away within a few days. Yet, suppose you are getting Botox too often. You may be at a higher risk of developing more severe bruising and swelling. 

11. Allergic reactions 

Allergic reactions are rare. Yet, they can happen. The most common reactions are itching, dizziness, rash, and swelling of the face. 

If you have a history of allergies, you may be at a higher risk of developing an allergic reaction to Botox. 

12. Nerve damage 

Nerve damage can occur from too much Botox, too. It happens if the injection needle hits a nerve. This can born temporary or permanent paralysis of the muscles. In rare cases, people have reported losing feelings in their extremities following Botox injections. 

You should consult with your doctor upon experiencing the following. They are numbness, tingling, or weakness in your extremities. 

13. Stronger muscle contractions 

If you receive too many injections in the same muscle, you may experience more muscle contractions. Botox causes the muscles to contract more forcefully. As a result, you may feel pain in the injected muscles. The injections can also direct the muscles to cramp. 

How to Correct a Bad Botox Injection

1. Know when enough is enough. 

The best way to fix a problem is to take a hands-on approach. Yet, this is definitely not always the case regarding cosmetic procedures. Always be sure to talk to your doctor. It is before you automatically look for another session as the answer. 

More Botox is not necessarily better. The goal of the procedure is not to freeze the face completely. It is done instead to provide a natural appearance where the face can still move. 

2. Massage 

In the case of “botched” Botox, you can try massaging the treated area. In doing so, you may help spread the Botox around and smooth any lumps or bumps. 

3. Treatments containing copper 

According to dermatologists, a treatment containing copper might help. They can correct a bad Botox injection. 

4. Use of dermal fillers 

A skilled dermatologist may be able to correct lousy Botox with dermal fillers. They aid in creating a more symmetrical appearance. 

5. Time 

The effects of Botox are not permanent. It will surely wear off over time. If you’re unhappy with the results of it, you can wait for its effect to diminish. 

How Long Will the Effects of Too Much Botox Last?

The full effects of a Botox procedure gradually alleviate in three to four mouths. The duration will anchor on the number of injections you receive. Also, the amount of Botox injected.  Your body’s unique response to the neurotoxin can also play a part.

You will likely see improvements as the body begins breaking down the substance. Meanwhile, you must refrain from additional corrective treatments.

Can Too Much Botox Be Reversed?

There are no quick-fix solutions when it comes to too many bad cases of Botox. Yet, a skilled injector will know if a touch-up treatment will alleviate the undesired consequences of too much botox. It will also determine if your current condition is better left untreated. 

Proper Aftercare and Maintenance of Botox

1. Avoid touching your face for at least 4 hours after treatment. 
2. Avoid other skin treatments
3. Don’t sleep on the treated areas 
4. Stay out of the sun 
5. Maintain hydration 
6. Avoid alcohol before and after treatment 
7. Evade strenuous exercise for at least 24 hours after treatment